As the saying goes, "Reading is essential if you're going to be a writer." You must have heard it a million times that reading is crucial for improving your writing abilities, and we couldn't agree more. If you believe that you can write and have the skills to opt for it as a full-time profession, then it goes without saying that you must be an avid reader. Being a dotted reader aids you in numerous ways as it helps you develop your writing abilities. It is also crucial to realize that if you don't enjoy diving into a variety of genres, there is a good chance that you won't be successful at writing. Reading is the foundation of quality writing. If you are looking to make an enviable career as a storyteller or essayist, or even a scriptwriter, it is important to realize that reading is the groundwork that you need to put to have a successful career as a writer. Here, we will discuss how reading can affect your writing style and can help you improve your writing abilities.

Enhances Your Vocabulary

The primary reason to read is that it greatly improves your vocabulary. Every word has many meanings and uses, and it is by reading that you are able to apply a single word in many different ways. Additionally, as you become an enthusiastic reader, you begin to realize the different ways to utilize one word in different forms in a sentence. You begin to comprehend and master new words that assist you in communicating your thoughts using phrases and sentence structure.

Gives Your Imagination a Boost

Reading polishes your imaginative skills and helps you flex those creative muscles. When you read, you can imagine things happening in different realms and even portray the characters as per your heart's desire that fit the story's narrative. It aids you in maturing cognitively to critically examine various situations to comprehend, justify and defend the options offered. The above practices will help you train your brain to take in different situations and respond in an appropriate manner. Reading is not going to improve your writing abilities, but it can help you develop your problem-solving skills, which are essential in real life.

Introduces You to Diverse Writing Styles

If you study a variety of genres, works by different contemporary and classic authors, and various publications, you'll slowly begin to understand and recognize the different writing styles. Understanding the variety of writing styles will help you create your own distinctive writing style. It is essential for writers to have a distinctive writing style which will differentiate them from other writers on the market.

Help You Build Analytical Skill

When you read, think about if you're reading good writing or not. If yes, then why?" Decide for yourself who the most acclaimed authors are and look for great books that will inspire you. In addition, consider why you believe your most-loved books to be outstanding. Are they based on character development? The writer's use of themes and subtext? If you are able to critically evaluate a piece of literature and identify the qualities of good writing, then you'll be able to draw the same attention to your own writing.

Nurtures New Concept

If you make reading part of your routine, you will be able to expose yourself to new concepts and methods and also refuel your creativity for the next writing assignment. The reality is that reading is the most productive when it is done daily. Many authors divide their time during the day to reading, and reserve time for writing, editing and revising. A consistent reading routine provides you with the chance to encounter ideas that make you think. And you might be able to turn the inspiration into a fresh writing piece written by you.

Ways to Incorporate Reading in Your Busy Schedule:

Beginning with the obvious!

1. Find your ideal reading spot during your leisure time, whether that's at the beach or in a comfy armchair near the fire, or even in the bed before you fall to sleep.
2. Read during lunch at work or inside the break rooms. Put on headsets to ward off any unnecessary distractions.
3. You can read in the waiting room of the doctor's office or the line at the DMV, waiting for your daughter's arrival from school, or in the bathroom... basically, anywhere you get some free time.
4. Read on your way to work if you take a bus or train or use a carpool (but not when you're bicycling, driving, and walking).
5. While exercising, you can read on an elliptical, treadmill, spinner, or other devices that don't require you to pay attention to anything.
6. Wherever you go, you can listen to your favorite audiobooks, even while running or gardening, vacuuming while driving, at a boring event, etc.
7. If you wish to become an excellent writer, one of the ways to master the art of your craft is through reading thoroughly. Authors who want to become great adopt reading habits to learn many things through the literature they read.

The reason you read to write will depend on your goals in the field of writing. Maybe you want to produce New York Times bestsellers. It will help if you read the work of top-selling authors such as Dan Brown, Stephen King, and J.K. Rowling. If you're attracted to literary fiction and narrative nonfiction, begin reading the works of great writers such as Margaret Atwood, Tim O'Brien, and Jennifer Egan. If you're hoping that your writing could be discussed in college or high school one day, you should study the outstanding writing that includes Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Joyce Carol Oates, and Kurt Vonnegut. With that, we hope you find this blog useful and can squeeze in more time for reading.

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